The String of Pearls (1850), p. 722

any good, and that is in case any poor fellow should get washed on shore through the surf with a few sparks of life in him. Bilioa, my men! Get out your tackle, and let us look out for the survivers. Some one may try to fight for it."
The sailors and boatmen upon the beach were charmed with the idea that they might be able to do some good in this way; and as they soon found that Ingestrie knew perfectly well what he was about, they listened to his orders, in the course they should take, and obeyed them with alacrity and skill.
He had some of the long line connected With the fishing-nets, and to which corks were attached, cast out into the sea by the aid of little kedge anchors, so that the waves did not bring them back again, and as the other ends of the lines were held firmly on the shore, any one who might be struggling for life amid the surf, would have had a good chance of preservation by laying hold of one of those lines.
"We may do some good," said Ingestrie, as he tied one end of one of the ropes round his waist.
"What are you about?" said the colonel.
"Oh, nothing. Do not fancy I am going to throw myself into the waves. But if I should chance to see any poor soul struggling for life, it would take something to prevent me from going after him."
"But think of yourself."
"Oh, I cannot come to any sort of harm, you know. They will easily be able to haul me on shore, you perceive, by the other end of the rope, and I have been rather used to fighting my way through the waves."
"Heaven speed you, if the occasion for your doing so again should arise, my gallant friend. Far be it from me to dissuade you against such an attempt; and I am sure that even she who loves you best of all, would be the first to encourage you."
"Of course she would."
"All lost, sir," said a sailor.
"No, don't say that!" cried Jngestrie. "Where is that night glass that some one had here a little while ago?"
"Here, sir."
Ingestrie placed the telescope to his eye, and looked fixedly in the direction of the wreck. He then handed it to the sailor, and said--
"Who has a good hold of the end of this rope that is about me?"
"All's right, sir. There will be no lack of hands with that. But you don't mean to go through the surf, sir?"
"I see a human being struggling with the foam, and from his actions he is no swimmer. I cannot stand here and see him die, while there is a chance of saving him. Hark pb n="722"

you! Don't wait for me to sing out, but use your own eyes, and begin to pull in the moment you see me close with him. The dawn is coming rapidly, and you will see better each moment. Now, I'm off."
"For the love of Heaven be careful!" cried the colonel.
Ingestrie smiled, and then dashed into the roaring, bubbling surf of the sea, with the rope round his waist.
A loud cheer burst from the throats of all present, as the heroic action was witnessed. If anything had been wanting, which it was not, to urge the gallant Mark Ingestrie on his brave and noble adventure, that cheer would have done it; but amid the roar and din of the water about his ears, it is doubtful if he could have heard it at all, or any noise of ten times the intensity.

The figure in the sea, that had attracted the attention of Ingestrie, was now plainly perceived by the colonel, and by all who were upon the beach. To the practical eyes of the sailors then present, it was evident that the body must be lashed, to some very buoyant substance, which enabled it to keep afloat, notwithstanding the roll of the sea, and the breaking of the waves over it. The person was evidently not swimming, although, by the wash of the tide, and the set of the wind, he was being driven into shore,